Hierarchical distributed ledger

Abstract

A monitoring production of a technical apparatus in a secure and reliable manner is provided. This monitoring is achieved using encapsulation of a first distributed ledger into a second distributed ledger.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A device for monitoring production of a technical apparatus comprising a plurality of components, the device comprising a control circuitry configured to:
 for each one of a plurality of production steps of a first component of the plurality of components: trigger deposition of a respective entry in a first distributed ledger associated with the first component, the respective entry being associated with the respective production step; and 
 upon integration of the first component in a second component of the plurality of components: trigger encapsulation of the first distributed ledger in a second distributed ledger associated with the second component; 
 wherein the first distributed ledger is a first blockchain comprising multiple first blocks; 
 wherein the second distributed ledger is a second blockchain comprising multiple second blocks. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the triggering of the encapsulation of the first distributed ledger in the second distributed ledger comprises:
 triggering deposition of a respective entry in the second distributed ledger which is associated with the respective production step of the integration of the first component in the second component. 
 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein entries in the first distributed ledger are indicative of a physical-technical parameter of the production steps. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the physical-technical parameter is selected from the group comprising: an error log; a duration; an environmental parameter; and an operational parameter of production equipment. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to perform a recursive integrity check, wherein the recursive integrity check operates on the second distributed ledger prior to operating on the first distributed ledger. 
     
     
       6. A method of monitoring production of a technical apparatus comprising a plurality of components, the method comprising:
 for each one of a plurality of production steps of a first component of the plurality of components: triggering deposition of a respective entry in a first distributed ledger associated with the first component, the respective entry being associated with the respective production step; and 
 upon integration of the first component in a second component of the plurality of components: triggering encapsulation of the first distributed ledger in a second distributed ledger associated with the second component; 
 wherein the first distributed ledger is a first blockchain comprising multiple first blocks; 
 wherein the second distributed ledger is a second blockchain comprising multiple second blocks. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the triggering of the encapsulation of the first distributed ledger in the second distributed ledger comprises:
 triggering deposition of a respective entry in the second distributed ledger which is associated with the respective production step of the integration of the first component in the second component. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein entries in the first distributed ledger are indicative of a physical-technical parameter of the production step. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the physical-technical parameter is selected from the group comprising: an error log; a duration; an environmental parameter; and an operational parameter of production equipment. 
     
     
       10. The method of according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 performing a recursive integrity check, wherein the recursive integrity check operates on the second distributed ledger prior to operating on the first distributed ledger.